Motorcycle Blog on 2040Motos

Recall for 2009-2011 Yamaha V-Max

Yamaha is issuing a recall campaign on certain 2009-2011 V-Max power cruisers due to a potential risk of oil pump malfunction. According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, abnormally high oil pressure can build up within the oil pump of certain Yamaha V-Max models. The high pressure may force the washer on the oil pump shaft against the oil pump housing, causing oil to stop pumping through the engine.

Honda Canada to Launch CBR250R Racing Series

Honda Canada will introduce a new national racing series featuring the CBR250R for 2012. The news is no surprise as Honda has been running a CBR125R Challenge racing series as a support class for the Canadian Superbike Championship since 2008. With the CBR250R on the market for nearly a year (and reportedly doing quite well at that), a racing series featuring the quarter-liter sportbike was almost inevitable.

Streetfighter 848, with added bling

Now, you could hardly accuse the Streetfighter of not being good-looking, but for those of you who want a little more, Ducati have - of course - produced a range of aftermarket accessories to add a bit of bling to the already fairly tasty Streetfighter 848.Most of the Japanese aftermarket add-ons (or genuine accessories as they're known) are either too conservative or remarkably pointless. Let's take the fake-carbon clock surround on the CBR600RR or body-coloured pillion seat hump on the R1 as examples from a list of thousands.However, the bits bolted onto this Ducati look the part and give it an extra air of brutality and not a single centimetre of rim tape in sight.Check out the pics below; that seat unit is a work of art.

2012 Ducati Streetfighter 848 Photo Gallery

Update: The review is now up! Read it here. Ducati has released a series of photos of the new Streetfighter 848 from the naked model’s European press launch.

This Used to be a Triumph Daytona 675 Race Bike [Video]

Crashes occur fairly often during motorcycle races but rarely do we see a race bike get as spectacularly demolished as this Triumph Daytona 675. The crash took place during the Sept.  11 Donington Park round of the Triumph Triple Challenge, a support class in the British Superbike series featuring the Triumph Daytona 675. Rider Ash Beech low sides going into a corner and thankfully slides relatively safely into the grass.

2012 Honda Ace CB125 and Ace CB125-D – $627 Motorcycles for African Market

Honda announced two low-priced small-displacement motorcycles to be produced and sold in Nigeria. The Honda Ace CB125 and Ace CB125-D were developed to be affordable, durable, easy to use and offer good fuel economy. Honda will introduce the CB125 and CB125-D at about 100,000 Nigerian naira (US$627), a price point that Honda expects to be affordable for many Nigerians, with the manufacturer targeting annual sales of 100,000 units.

Zero Enters South American Market

Zero Motorcycles has signed a distribution deal with the Brazilian dealer network Grupo Izzo, bringing its electric motorcycles to first Brazil, and soon across South America. Brazil is one of the world’s fastest growing markets for motorcycles, a market Zero hopes to tap with its new distribution deal. Grupo Izzo is based mainly in Brazil with 11 locations, but has plans to expand into other South American countries.

2012 Ducati Streetfighter 848 MSRP Set at $12,995

Ducati is pricing its new Streetfighter 848 at $12,995, the same price as the 2011 848 EVO and $2,000 less than the original 1099cc Streetfighter. The new 2012 Ducati Streetfighter 848 is equipped with a Testastretta Evoluzione engine similar to the one powering the 848 EVO but tuned to produce a claimed 132 hp and 69 ft-lb. (compared to the s848′s 140hp and 72.3 ft-lb.) In comparison, the 1199cc Streetfighter has a claimed output of 155 hp and 85 ft-lb.

How not to do Woodcote

This is me highsiding in Racwe 1 of the 848 Challenge at Silverstone last weekend. The shot was taken by sharp-shooter Jimmy Olsen. All I can say is I was comfortable with the rear moving around all race and it was doing it quite a bit out of Woodcote, but I got greedy and thought I could reel in Pete Hasler who was fading a bit towards the end.

Roland Sands Designs Triumph Scrambler For Charity Auction

Roland Sands Designs is customizing a Triumph Scrambler and a Triumph Thruxton to raise money for the Tony Hawk Foundation. The custom Triumph Scrambler, pictured in the rendering above, and the Thruxton will be sold at the Tony Hawk Foundation’s “Stand Up for Skateparks” gala auction Oct. 2 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

“KTM Behind the Machine” Video Series

KTM is producing a new video series offering a look behind the scenes of the 2011 AMA Motocross and AMA NationalEnduro championships. The six-episode ‘KTM Behind the Machine” series, which premieres Sept. 30 on KTM‘s,  follows the Red Bull KTM Motocross team and the FMF KTM off-road racing team.

2012 Triumph Tiger 1050 and 1050SE – New Suspension, Handlebars and Colors

Triumph announced some updates to its Tiger 1050 and Tiger 1050SE for 2012, though at the moment it appears only the SE version will be offered in the United States. The 2012 Triumph Tiger 1050 and the special edition version receive updated suspension with new damping settings for both the front and the rear as well as a stiffer rear shock. Triumph says the updates will provide a more controlled ride for both riding solo or with a passenger while brake diving is also reduced.

848 Challenge: Silverstone race results

Race 1: Race 1 produced another memorable 848 Challenge race, with Mike Edwards (MSKworks.com) in determined mood to record his first race victory of the season. But Kenny Gilbertson (AOR/Boast Plumbing), Leon Morris, and Robbie Brown (Ducati Manchester) were to push him all the way, with the front four riders each having held the lead by the half way point. Further back Mark Cheetham (Shorrocks Motorcycles) was trading places with ex-Champion Darren Fry (JHP/Buildbase Ducati) with Aaron Brown (Ladybirds Ducati) and Ricky Holden (Holden Racing) less that a second apart.

2011 848 Challenge championship standings

Leon Morris wrapped up the championship at Castle Coombe but he was pushed hard all season by Edwards, Gilbertson, Brown and occasionally Darren Fry. The 8-round season started at Brands BSB and also headed to Assen and Monza for its away rounds, finally wrapping up at Silverstone. The guest rider who caused the biggest stir was ex-Triple Challenge winner Chris Northover; with a win at Thruxton in monsoon conditions.

BSB Superstock Championship Winning BMW S1000RR Stolen

British Superbike racer Richard Cooper’s BMW S1000RR racebike was stolen mere hours after winning the 2011 British national Superstock title. Thieves reportedly broke into the Buildbase BMW race team’s truck after it returned to the team’s base in Leicestershire, England, from the series-clinching round at Britain’s Silverstone circuit. According to the team, thieves optained the keys to a van holding Cooper’s winning motorcycle and Superbike class racer John Laverty’s BMW S1000RR Superbike.

New 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale Spy Photos

New spy photos have emerged giving the clearest look yet at the upcoming 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale. Uploaded by a user on the Ducati.ms forum, the photographs show the Ducati 1199 Panigale still with some camouflaging but the clarity of the images offer a good idea of the overall fairing design as well as a look at the underslung Termignoni exhaust. Of course, the Internet being what it is, the new spy photos have elicited comments about the test rider’s size, but as a larger rider myself, I find it’s a nice change to see how a motorcycle looks for different body types.

Honda Announces New 125cc Scooter Engine with Idle Stop

Honda announced it is developing a new 125cc scooter engine with an idle stop system promising 25% better fuel economy than existing engines. The announcement comes alongside the announcement of a new 700cc engine which will be introduced with the Honda Integra scooter. The new engine will be introduced in a variety of scooter models around the world in 2012.

2012 Yamaha YZF-R1 Video Featuring Ben Spies

Yamaha has released a new video of the 2012 YZF-R1 featuring MotoGP racer Ben Spies taking the new bike with Yamaha’s 50th Anniversary limited edition livery to a track day. Spies who won the 2009 World Superbike Championship on a Yamaha R1 so he is obviously very familiar with the sportbike which will now be available with a seven-level traction control system. Spies appears a little bored as the other riders learn the layout of the track and when they get to the track, he calmly waits while they take off around him before dropping the hammer and showing them how it’s done.

2012 Honda Integra Announced; All-New 670cc engine with Dual Clutch Transmission

Ed: Honda has recently announced the new Integra engine will be a 670cc engine, not 700cc as previously announced. This post has been updated to reflect this new information. Honda announced it is developing a new series of 700cc 670cc engines and a second-generation dual clutch transmission for motorcycles.

New Stuff: Bridgestone Battlax Racing R10s

...stickier than a Weatherspoons floor on a Friday night. Well that’s not exactly an official Bridgestone technical term but no matter which way you look at it the brand new Battlax Racing R10 tyre is a ‘Road legal’ Supersport/Superstock race tyre. It’s used as the control tyre for the Aprillia RRV450 race series.

Tested: Maxxis Supermaxx Diamond

Well Maxxis were bang on with their mileage claims, 6500 miles on the rear and it looks as though there is another 1000. Not bad at all for a set of tyres that cost less than £200. Having lived with the Supermaxx’s Diamonds over the past few months the best thing about these tyres is the mileage range they offer vs cost.

Himmelmann Dominates FIM e-Power & TTXGP Combined Event

Germany’s Matthias Himmelmann dominated the FIM e-Power & TTXGP combined event held Sept. 23 at the Le Mans circuit, in opening of the renowned FIM 24 Hours Endurance race. Not to discount Himmelmann’s win, but the most remarkable thing about the race is how much faster the electric-powered motorcycles lapped the Bugatti circuit this year.

The Making of the Rizla Suzuki Misano Micron Livery [Video]

Suzuki is a bit of an underdog in the MotoGP World Championship – at least, as much of an underdog as a full factory outfit can be. With just one Suzuki on the grid, expectations are low for the Japanese manufacturer. But one thing Suzuki does do well is put out an attractive looking racebike with the GSV-R dressed in Rizla Suzuki blue with livery by Troy Lee Designs.

2012 Honda CBR1000RR Officially Unveiled

Honda has officially unveiled the 2012 version of the CBR1000RR sportbike. Pictures of the 2012 Honda CBR1000RR actually leaked out last month from Hong Kong but official images and details are now out. The 2012 Honda CBR1000RR receives new Showa Big Piston forks, a new double-tube design rear shock, revised fuel injection settings, updated nose and tail and new 12-spoke cast aluminum wheels.

Survival guide for Mulholland Highway

You will no doubt have seen the riding calamities on Mullholland HWY, there is however one rider who has this stretch of tarmac in California nailed. Here's how to survive that snaking road by Adey: 1. Knowledge of the road is crucial.

2012 MV Agusta Brutale 1090R Announced – Formerly Canadian Exclusive Model Expands to Other Markets

MV Agusta is adding another new member to its Brutale line with a lower spec version of the 1090RR. The 2012 MV Agusta Brutale 1090R joins the 1090RR, 990R and the 920 in the Italian manufacturer’s lineup. MV Agusta’s Canadian importer Motovan had been offering its own version of the Brutale 1090R since April as a Canadian exclusive model instead of the 920 version, but the new 1090R will be available in other markets.

Custom Design Your Leathers Online

Canadian riding apparel manufacturer Velocity Sportsgear has launched a new website allowing customers to custom design their own leathers online. Visitors to VelocitySportsGear.com can order from Velocity’s existing catalog of riding apparel or choose to custom design their own jackets, pants and suits. The customizing tool offers several design templates to start from, and then users can pick and choose the color for each particular section of the apparel.

Peel three-wheeler

This early ciné film footage of the Peel three-wheeler, shot in what looks like Peel in the Isle of Man, is so good it’s a wonder the car never really took off. Possibly. I love the way, having being waved away by what look like nuns, the driver promptly twats the right hand gatepost within twenty feet of its start point.

Mythbusters to Compare Emissions of Cars Versus Motorcycles

Are motorcycles more environmentally friendly than cars? Ask most people that question and their initial response would probably be “yes” because motorcycles are more fuel efficient, and they release less CO2.  But is that the whole story? MythBusters‘ Jamie Hynerman and Adam Savage are going to find out on the Emmy-nominated show’s fall season premiere, Sept.

Motorcycle Thefts Down 11.2% in 2010

Motorcycle thefts in the U.S. are down for the fourth consecutive year in 2010,  according to a report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. There were 49,791 reported motorcycle thefts in 2010, an 11.2% drop from the 56,093 thefts reported in 2009.